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Title: Anita Mackey Papers
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 57
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Santa Barbara, Davidson Library, Department of Special Collections, California Ethnic and Multicultural
Archives
Language of Material:
Description is inEnglish
Physical Description:
5.0 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1929-1996
General Physical Description note:
2 document boxes, 2 oversize boxes and approximately 2,000 slides in 9 slide albums
Abstract: The Anita Mackey Papers cover her educational, professional and volunteer accomplishments. They are recorded in correspondence,
awards, memorabilia and other papers. Many slides and photos are part of this collection. The photos cover much of her personal
life.
creator:
Mackey, Anita
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Conditions Governing Access note
none
Other material in Special Collections: Horace James McMillan Papers (CEMA 007), Santa Barbara African American Local History
Collection (CEMA 99). Anita Mackey Oral History (OH 14) which includes a publication: Mackey, Anita J. and David E. Russell.
Black and Still Coping An Oral History, Volume One: The Formative Years. Library Oral History Program, University of California, Santa Barbara. 2004.
Collection processed by Salvador Güereña, and Callie Bowdish, December 1, 2008.
Anita Johnson Mackey is a Santa Barbara community leader and nationally recognized social service worker. As a licensed clinical
social worker, she worked for the Veteran's Administration for thirty years in three cities: Chicago, as the first African
American supervisor in social service; Los Angeles as the first African American supervisor there; and Santa Barbara as administrator
of the Social Work Service Office. Mrs. Mackey was born in Riverside, California as one of eight children. At the age of ten
she lost her mother and was raised by her father and an older sister. She received her early education in California. She
earned a B.A. in speech from the University of Redlands in 1937.
She earned her M.A. degree in medical social service administration from the University of Chicago in 1941. Mrs.Mackey has
also taught at various colleges and universities, including teaching as a field instructor in the School of Social Welfare
at UCLA, and for Atlanta University and the University of Chicago. At Santa Barbara City College, Mrs. Mackey was the first
instructor of the overwhelmingly popular course "Afro- American Culture," in response to the great need at the time and due
to the realization that there were few African Americans available to teach such courses. One of Mrs. Mackey's many callings
was to work with elementary children to improve their reading and comprehension skills. Her work in the mental health care
stems from a strong belief that those with mental disabilities need spokespersons.
Mrs.Mackey has been active in many community and civic organizations and boards, including the Board of the Comprehensive
Health Planning Association of Santa Barbara County, as a member of the Santa Barbara Citizens' Adult Educational Planing
Council, and on the Board of Directors of the NAACP. She has served on the Citizen's Planning Association of Santa Barbara
County, the Channel City Women's Forum, and on the Human Relations Council on Social Services. She has served on the Goleta
Valley Community Hospital's Board of Trustees, and on the Board of Loma Linda University and Medical Center. She currently
serves on the Santa Barbara Police Department Board of Commissioners. Mrs. Mackey's recognitions and awards are numerous.
She is listed in Who's Who of American Women; she is a former Santa Barbara Ad Club "Woman of the Year." (1976), and was honored
with the Notable Woman of Santa Barbara County Award in 1982. The Anita Mackey Minority Merit Scholarship Endowment Fund was
established in 1995 at the University of Chicago School of Social Services.
Anita J. Mackey's papers were deeded to the University of California, to be deposited in the California Ethnic and Multicultural
Archives. Her papers are of special value to researchers interested in studying the history of the Santa Barbara community,
civil rights, women, African American issues, and the Veterans Administration. Mrs. Mackey's papers consist of speeches, photographs,
slides, memorabilia, ephemera, correspondence, and diaries covering her travels to over one hundred and two countries throughout
her life.
The Anita Mackey Papers reflect her richly diverse and well-traveled life. Her educational, professional and volunteer accomplishments
are recorded in correspondence, awards, memorabilia and other papers. Many slides and photos are part of this collection.
The photos cover much of her personal life. The slides are well organized and maintain the order that she used for giving
slide shows on her world travels to such places as Africa, Russia, Poland, China and the Holy Land. The current papers cover
from 1929 to 1992. The papers consist of three series: Personal and Biographical, Photographs and Slides, and Publications.
Series I Personal and Biographical, 1929-1992
This series housed in boxes 1, 3 and oversized box10. Included are awards, correspondence, biographical infromation and some
of Anita Mackey's writings.
Series II Photographs, 1933-1991
This series contains personal photographs and travel photos. The boxes are of Anita Mackey's travels around the world and
in the United States.These are housed in photo box number 2.
Series III Slides, 1974-1989
This series contains travel slides.
Series IV Publications, 1970-1975
Series three contains publications with personal notes.
Anita Mackey Papers, CEMA 57, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African American social workers